[ Action ] .036

[markofthebrave]

[Grief is a part of life, and when it's something as serious as friends going away, never seeing them again, being left - Katara has learned that it's best to stitch it in to her days, to continue to live her life as she normally would but to take moments. Moments where she'll close her eyes in pain, moments where she'll pause to remember, moments to allow herself to be sad.

But as she desired to continue to live, Katara also knew it was important to intersperse those moments with moments of celebration - celebration for the joy there was in simply living. Aang had taught her that. And so this morning when her hands brushed the rest of the Malnosso present hanging in her wardrobe, Katara decided to put it on. Maybe it was just an impulse, a momentary whim brought on by shopping with Haruhi the other day. Maybe it was because she knew Nami would have liked to see her in it - a moment's pain and breathe - or maybe it was because today was January 7th, and if she was home and everything was normal, it would be her birthday today.

Regardless, the waterskin slides on over this dress just as well as it does her tunic, and in an impulsive moment, Katara decides to use the hair accessories as well. The outfit isn't quite as easy to move in as her regular tunic; hopefully her expertise as a warrior won't be called for as she is out and about in today's light snowfall. She'll make a point of stopping by to see her pirate friends and checking in on her ninja friends - recently returned from mallynappings and all.

Later, in her accustomed practicing hours, Katara decides to do something different. Half on impulse, she makes her way over to the main Square by the road between the Good Spirits and the Slash and Crash. It's quiet enough after dinner that she's able to get a good start, and the light dusting of large flat snowflakes only adds to the feeling of quiet, of almost home.

And so, by streetlight, by moonlight, Katara constructs something that might be in memory to her friends who've returned home, that might be simply because she wants to make something beautiful. She'll be there for some time, even after the bulk of the sculpture is completed, putting on the finishing touches... and debating whether or not to drop in to the Good Spirits. Feel free to come by at any point - even if you just want to note the statue after she's been long gone.]

Comments

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[Rydia is on her way home after a long day at the Welcome Center, when she passes through the main square. She's humming softly to herself, reaching out to touch the snowflakes that drift down towards her. Though she doesn't care that much for winter and its chill, right now it's...almost peaceful.

Upon turning her head, she catches sight of a familiar figure ahead. She's about to wave and say hello, but soon finds herself mesmerized by the sculpture. Not wanting to interrupt, she'll simply watch the process.]

[markofthebrave]

[This is something very different than Katara's ever done before, and since she's not working with ice - which would make this easy - but snow itself, right now Rydia can see her working on growing one of the loops from the furthest base. It needs to be firm enough to not fall and it's slow going - almost like watching a flower bloom.]

[skulljokelol.livejournal.com]

[A knock on the door tends to echo easier in a house that's half empty. There's really too much quiet in this house - he's going to have to do something to fix that.

But since they appear to have company, he imagines answering the door would be most prudent. One skeletal doorman coming right up!]

[markofthebrave]

[And on the other side of the door there is one (1) waterbender with her hands partially full.]

Hey, Brook.

[action]

[herotypical]

[ if katara does drop into the bar, there will be someone behind the counter willing to construct her a most magnificent (non alcoholic) concoction. but, equally, if she does not stop in? well, perhaps buffy will see her when she leaves for the evening. ]

[action]

[markofthebrave]

[Snow sculpture completed, Katara's a bit hesistant to just return home - so in to the bar she goes.

And closes her eyes for a moment. The only times she'd ever really been in here were with Nami. Opening her eyes, the moment passes and Katara makes her way over to the bar.]

Hey, Buffy.

[Action]

[ombra_lira]

[That is beautiful. Sheik watches from nearby as Katara puts on some of those finishing touches. He'd been on his way back home, but he'd be lying if he said he were very comfortable there anymore. His own fault, if blame were to be placed on any one source.]

[Either way, watching Katara work is pretty fascinating.]

[Action]

[markofthebrave]

[Katara's just passing her hands over the bottom to create some of the detail work. When she becomes aware of someone staring at her, she glances up.

She doesn't really recognize Sheik, having only seen him in journals until now and - it is New Feather season, apparently.]

Oh, hello.

[silversnowfall]

[she'll show up when Katara is almost finished, much later on in the day when it's definitely all cold and snowy again.]

Good evening, Katara. You're quite the snow artist.

[markofthebrave]

[Katara glances up from some of the detail work, brushing the snow out of her hair. It's good to see Nephry - returned from the draft and seemingly well.]

Thank you, Nephry. It is pretty, isn't it.

[notaboy-gtfo.livejournal.com]

[ Smellerbee is...mostly skulking about town in the evening on the off-chance that Jet really will turn up- she's figuring she'll have to just start combing the forest sooner or later. Probably gonna be a lot of work, but, well.

It's Jet. So it's fine.

She'd have to be pretty off her game not to recognize the only waterbender she's ever met, too. And unlike if she were to find Sokka in the middle of something, Smellerbee won't interrupt fancy sculpting time; Katara merits some iota of respect for Lake Laogai at the end of the day. Wasn't her fault that nobody had any time. So tl;dr, she's gonna be over here sharpening weaponry until those finishing touches are taken care of. ]

[markofthebrave]

[Stepping back, Katara examines with soft satisfaction, just enjoying the moment of quiet and peace.

Glancing over her shoulder... yeah, there's the source of that sound.]

Oh - hey! [A small smile.] Sokka told me you were here.

8| /piles on

[savethelastchip.livejournal.com]

[ Do stop by your Ninja Community Building!

You'll get the one who doesn't think that door-answering is troublesome right now. ]

/squished

[markofthebrave]

[Oh good, just the one she was looking for! Hopefully his perception!jutsu will be down for the day. Katara smiles at him when he opens the door.]

Hi, Chouji!

[...and depending on how perceptive he is, he might note that her hair and dress is different today.]

[markofthewise]

[When Sokka exits the smithy, he's not sure what to stare at more. The big swirly snow sculptures (which aren't actually sculptures) or... well, that dress she's wearing. That's a new one.]

[markofthebrave]

[Katara looks up from finishing the detail work at one of the bases.]

Oh, hey Sokka.

[forestpride.livejournal.com]

[San has sort of avoided the village for a while now.

...But she's always drawn to watching Katara use her spirit magic. Same thing now.]

[markofthebrave]

[And so San gets to see Katara slowly building a loop that entwines with another loop. She's concentrating on it, and doesn't immediately notice the audience.]

ohey thar

[sonatasedge]

[Soul catches sight of Katara as she's creating her sculpture. He stops a few feet away and just watches with hands in his pockets. He recognizes her from when she came to see little Nami was alright and walked with Chopper to the restaurant. He doesn't say anything, not wanting to interrupt her concentration, but can't help but watch, having never seen anything like waterbending before.]

gasp - it's you!

[markofthebrave]

[A few people have done the whole 'pause and stare' thing by now, and Katara's working on slowly expanding one of the loops, so she doesn't look up and over right away.

When she does, she recognizes him enough - the kid who told Nami and stayed with her - to give him a small smile.]

Hey.

[Action]

[allbluebreasts.livejournal.com]

[Eventually, Katara might notice Sanji in the house. She let Brook get the door, but manners demand she at least see who's visiting them, and she pokes her head into whichever room the younger girl's frequenting today.

She should thank her - it's not nearly as quiet now]

Katara-chan!

[Action]

[markofthebrave]

[She's taken over your kitchen, Sanji, bwahahaha. Or, well, borrowed a set of matches. Everything else she brought with her - the small pot, the bunsen burner, and the few other ingredients. She's stirring what's in the pot now and glances up at the familiar name, if not-exactly familiar voice.]

Hi, Sanji.

[She smiles, a little strained at the very edges because - this isn't weird or terrible at all.] Come in, have a seat!

[ETA: It's doubtful Sanji would miss the new look.]

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

[Sometime during the construction of the sculpture, Riku passes by. However, Katara's work catches his attention, so rather than returning back to the house to do guard duty, he turns around and walks up to her.]

What's this about?

[markofthebrave]

[She glances over her shoulder.]

Oh - hey, Riku.

[ledbythewind]

[It's shortly after his own dinner that Richard wanders by, just out enjoying the snowfall and a quiet moment to himself. He's dressed up a bit more than he typically is, partly because those boots work quite well against snow, and partly because it's somehow comforting to be wearing clothing that seems like it comes from his homeworld.

When he sees the sculpture, he stops to watch Karara work, admiring both it and the way she seems to do so so very effortlessly.]

[markofthebrave]

[It appears to be dress up night! Katara's back is quite deliberately to the street at the moment, so she won't be noticing the audience right away.]

[endgames]

[Unfortunately, Shikamaru was actually out of the apartment when Katara stopped by earlier. There's a lot of training you can't do indoors after all.

It's as he's heading home that he notices the snow sculpture. Curiosity is a go, and he mulls that over for a second or too before stepping into the bar.]

[markofthebrave]

[Well, he might notice a familiar head of hair with her back angled away from the door, even though the hair is arranged differently and he's a boy... but well, ninja. Also, not many people in Luceti go around in a blue parka like she has folded on one of the bar stools to the side.

...the dress is different too, though. And the shoulders are slightly slumped.]